Beach umbrella stabilizer

ABSTRACT

A beach umbrella stabilizer comprising an outer tubular sleeve and a telescoping inner tubular sleeve which interact to form an impact-type slide hammer arrangement is disclosed. The inner tubular sleeve of the stabilizing device can be forced into the sand by the slide hammer arrangement. After the stabilizing device is securely anchored into the sand, a beach umbrella can be attached to the end thereof by means of a clamp. The height of the stabilizing device can be adjusted thus permitting the overall height of the beach umbrella to be similarly adjusted.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a stabilizingdevice for a beach umbrella and, more particularly, to a beach umbrellastabilizer that securely anchors a beach umbrella into the sand.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] One of the problems in erecting a beach umbrella is to anchorethe beach umbrella into the sand so that it is not easily turned over bythe wind, etc. Individuals typically improvise apparatus or methods tostabilize a beach umbrella. To the inventor's knowledge, no devices arepresently available which can be used to stabilize a beach umbrella inthe sand and which permit the adjustment of the height of the beachumbrella after the device and the beach umbrella have been securelyanchored into the sand.

[0003] In view of the foregoing, it has become desirable to develop adevice that securely anchors a beach umbrella into the sand and whichpermits the adjustment of the height of the beach umbrella after thedevice and the beach umbrella have been anchored into the sand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a solution to the problem ofanchoring a beach umbrella into the sand preventing the umbrella frombeing readily turned over by the wind, etc. The present inventioninvolves a beach umbrella stabilizer comprising an outer tubular sleeveand a telescoping inner tubular sleeve that interact to form animpact-type slide hammer arrangement. In this manner, the beach umbrellastabilizer can be “pounded” into the sand, and after being securelyanchored into the sand, a beach umbrella can be attached to the end ofthe stabilizer by means of a clamp. In addition, the height of the beachumbrella stabilizer can be adjusted, thus permitting the overall heightof the beach umbrella to be adjustable. In this manner, the beachumbrella is securely anchored into the sand and the overall height ofsame can be adjusted after anchoring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beach umbrella stabilizer ofthe present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a top end view of the beach umbrella stabilizer of thepresent invention.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the beach umbrella stabilizertaken across section-indicating lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0008] Referring now to the drawings where the illustrations are for thepurpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the present inventionand are not intended to limit the invention described herein, FIG. 1 isa perspective view of the beach umbrella stabilizer 10 of the presentinvention. The beach umbrella stabilizer 10 is comprised of an outertubular sleeve 12, an inner tubular sleeve 14 received within outersleeve 12 and slidingly movable therein in a telescoping relationship,and a turn screw 16. The outer sleeve 12 and the inner sleeve 14 aretypically fabricated from a metallic material. A clamp 18 (shown inphantom) is typically attached to end 20 of outer sleeve 12. The end ofa support pole for a beach umbrella (not shown) is received within clamp18 in order to attach the beach umbrella to the beach umbrellastabilizer 10.

[0009] Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the beachumbrella stabilizer 10 is shown. The outer sleeve 12 is provided with aninner shoulder 22 at the approximate longitudinal midpoint of the outersleeve 12. In addition, an inner shoulder 24 is provided adjacent end 26of outer sleeve 12. Both inner shoulder 22 and inner shoulder 24 areprovided with bores 28, 30, respectively, therethrough. Bores 28 and 30are sized so as to slidingly receive the inner sleeve 14. Turn screw 16is threadably received through end 26 of outer sleeve 12 and throughinner shoulder 24 permitting the tip 32 of turn screw 16 to engage thesurface of inner sleeve 14. A circumferential flange 34 is attached tothe surface of inner sleeve 14 and is sized so as to engage the innershoulder 22 provided in outer sleeve 12.

[0010] When it is desired to erect a beach umbrella, the end of innersleeve 14 is inserted into the sand. A tip 36 is provided on the end ofinner sleeve 14 in order to assist in the insertion of the end of innersleeve 14 into the sand. After insertion of the end of inner sleeve 14into the sand, the outer sleeve 12 is moved downwardly on inner sleeve14 causing circumferential flange 34 on inner sleeve 14 to contact innershoulder 22 on outer sleeve 12. By successively raising the outer sleeve12 with respect to the inner sleeve 14 and then lowering the outersleeve 12 so that circumferential flange 34 on inner sleeve 14 contactsinner shoulder 22 on outer sleeve 14, the inner sleeve 14 is forced intothe sand. In essence, the combination of the outer sleeve 12 and theinner sleeve 14 acts as an impact-type slide hammer forcing the end ofinner sleeve 14 into the sand. When the end of inner sleeve 14 has beenreceived into the sand sufficiently so that the beach umbrellastabilizer 10 is securely anchored therein, turn screw 16 can bethreadably advanced through the end 26 of outer sleeve 12 and throughinner shoulder 24 causing its tip 32 to contact the surface of innersleeve 14. In this manner, the overall height of the beach umbrellastabilizer 12 can be adjusted. After the overall height of the beachumbrella stabilizer 12 has been adjusted, the end of the support polefor the beach umbrella can be received within clamp 18, thus securingthe beach umbrella to the beach umbrella stabilizer 10.

[0011] Certain modifications and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art upon reading the foregoing. It is understood that allsuch modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for thesake of conciseness and readability, but are properly within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A beach umbrella stabilizing device comprising an outertubular sleeve having first and second inwardly directed shoulders in aspaced-apart relationship therein, said first and second inwardlydirected shoulders each having a bore therethrough, an inner tubularmember received through said bores in said first and second inwardlydirected shoulders in said outer tubular member and telescopicallymovable within said outer tubular member, said inner tubular memberhaving an outwardly directed flange attached thereto, longitudinalmovement of said outer tubular member with respect to said inner tubularmember causing said first inwardly directed shoulder on said outertubular member to contact said outwardly directed flange on said innertubular member causing said inner tubular member to move in the samedirection as said outer tubular member.
 2. The stabilizing device asdefined in claim 1 further including a thumb screw arrangement receivedthrough said outer tubular member and said second inwardly directedshoulder permitting the end of said thumb screw to contact said innertubular member to adjust the position of said outer tubular member withrespect to said inner tubular member.
 3. The stabilizing device asdefined in claim 1 further including a clamp device receivable on oneend of said stabilizing device permitting a beach umbrella to beoperatively attached to said stabilizing device.